Inside Power: How Influence Really Works

2026 is a year of power and influence. Decisions are being shaped faster, earlier, and further from public view, and if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.

Join us for a candid conversation with Sherpa, a leading lobbying, and public affairs firm, as we pull back the curtain on how influence is actually built, how lobbying truly operates, and how individuals and organizations gain access to the people who shape outcomes.

This event is designed for professionals, entrepreneurs, political observers, and anyone who wants to understand where power really lives, and how proximity, credibility, and strategy determine who gets heard.

You’ll gain insight into:

• How lobbying and public affairs work in practice
• How influence is cultivated long before decisions are announced
• Why access and relationships matter more than visibility
• How to position yourself closer to power
  

🎤 Speakers

Dany Renauld

President, Sherpa

Dany Renauld holds an MBA and has over 25 years of experience in business, communications, and public affairs. He co-founded the advertising agency Brad in 1994 before selling it and went on to build a distinguished career in politics and government relations. He served as a political attaché to ministers including Jean Charest and Benoît Bouchard and has advised premiers, party leaders, and political actors at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. With a network spanning every Canadian province, he brings a rare understanding of policy development and decision-making across administrations. He now applies this expertise to advancing Sherpa’s clients’ interests.

Claude Éric Gagné

Senior Partner, Sherpa

Claude Éric Gagné is a seasoned political strategist known for his deep understanding of political dynamics and credibility across the political spectrum. Regularly sought out by elected officials, senior decision-makers, media professionals, and polling firms, he anticipates political agendas, societal trends, and shifts in public opinion. He has led multiple ministerial cabinets and contributed to the rise of several politicians in Quebec City and Ottawa. As the organizer of Justin Trudeau’s 2015 Quebec campaign, he was later appointed Deputy Director of Operations at the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, granting him access to the highest levels of power. Since 2018, he has advised clients on lobbying, government relations, and public affairs strategy at both the federal and provincial levels.

📍 Event Details

• 🎟️ Admission: Free
• 🍸 Drinks: Available for purchase
• 🧾 Minimum spend: Two beverages per person, to thank the venue for its hospitality
• 🤝Network with peers
  

This is a behind-the-scenes conversation about power, practical, candid, and grounded in real decision-making.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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